Worms Do Calculus to Find Food

[DeclinetoState]

<a href="mailto:gsoltis@imaginova.com">Greg Soltis</a>
LiveScience Staff
LiveScience.com (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/livescience/sc_livescience/byline/wormsdocalculustofindfood/28373698/SIG=10sog4vj6/*http://www.livescience.com)
Sun Jul 27, 10:21 AM ET<br>
Like humans with a nose for the best restaurants, roundworms also use their senses of taste and smell to navigate. And now, researchers may have found how a worm's brain does this: It performs calculus.

Worms calculate how much the strength of different tastes is changing - equivalent to the process of taking a derivative in calculus - to figure out if they are on their way toward food or should change direction and look elsewhere, says University of Oregon biologist Shawn Lockery, who thinks humans and other animals do the same thing.

This research could one day benefit some of the more than 200,000 Americans who detect a foul smell or taste that is actually pleasant or have a weakened or depleted ability to appreciate the scent of a lilac or savor the flavor (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/livescience/sc_livescience/storytext/wormsdocalculustofindfood/28373698/SIG=11qd9e7a1/*http://www.livescience.com/health/060829_bad_tongue.html) of a juicy burger.
More (http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/wormsdocalculustofindfood)

[Wolfcounsel]

With the aid of salt and chili peppers, Lockery reached the calculating-worms conclusion by studying two anatomically identical neurons from the worm's brain that collectively regulate behavior. These two neurons function like "on" and "off" gates in a computer in response to changes in salt concentration levels. --from DeclinetoState's link

How much did this clown receive in research grants to perform this worm puppet show? What a crock!

[DeclinetoState]

Let's see him analyze Paris Hilton's brain.

First, of course, he'll have to find it. That should be good for a few hundred thou at least in government grants.

[DoctorDoom]

First, of course, he'll have to find it. No problem. Equipment exists to aid in the search.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/Science/ZeissElecMicr.jpg

[DeclinetoState]

But of course. Nothing but the best must be used for this important academic research.

[DesertFox]

I volunteer to do research on Paris Hilton, but my areas of specialization are somewhat below the region of the brain.

[Taylor1]

I volunteer to do research on Paris Hilton, but my areas of specialization are somewhat below the region of the brain.

what brain?

[DeclinetoState]

Well, Taylor, that's what the research is trying to find out.

[Beowulf]

IF this study is true and worms can in fact perform calculus, you all do realize what disastrous consequence this entails? It means that Liberals too, who are worms themselves, can do it too without trying very hard. Scary thought.

[satcom]

Uhh... this is like saying my dog does calculus when he runs or walks by differentiating distance with respect to time.

[Wolfcounsel]

"Uhh... this is like saying my dog does calculus when he runs or walks by differentiating distance with respect to time." --satcom

Yes, but it sounds more scientific and important and sanctioned by Algore when some doofus gets paid for the research and writes it all down.
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[DesertFox]

What satcom said. There are plenty of things that people and animals regularly do that can only be calculated by using calculus, but that's not saying the people or animals actually do calculus.

[DoctorDoom]

I volunteer to do research on Paris Hilton, but my areas of specialization are somewhat below the region of the brain.The back of her legs?

[DeclinetoState]

Since Doc asked:

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/gallery/gorgeousgams/gg_hilton_full.jpg